Moving Back In With Parents

The View From Greece: Moving In With Your Parents

For years, parents throughout Greece tried to convince their kids to live at home well into adulthood, despite the trend in other parts of Europe of grown children moving out. But now they don't have to. The economic difficulties that devastated Greek households are forcing more and more 30-year-olds to return to their parent’s household with a terrible sense of defeat.

I don’t think I will ever forget the first time I was able to pay my rent and bills without any help from my parents. It may have just been a few rooms with my stuff in them but — let’s be honest — it’s our stuff that defines us. Every time I entered my old apartment and looked at that special corner I had for my bicycle and gear, I felt good. Thanks to the global financial crisis, most Greeks have had to say goodbye to their homes and independence, pack their precious possessions and return to their parents’ homes.

Rent in Athens is not expensive — a two-bedroom apartment costs around $400 a month, and you can get a pretty neat studio flat with verandas overlooking the whole town for $630. This sounds cheap to guys living in London and Perth, who pay that much to share a roach motel with five roommates. Still, it’s all relative, since minimum wage in Greece is barely $600 a month. In order to maintain a household all by yourself, you need a total of $1,200-1,400 a month for bills and groceries. This is the simple math that’s forcing people across Greece, Spain and Italy back under their parents’ roofs. And while it might seem difficult at first, there are ways to endure coexistence with mom and dad.

You haven't been defeated

Returning home can feel like accepting defeat, and indeed many guys go home and fall into despair, effectively giving up on planning the next steps. The moment you realize that you’re going to have to move back in with your parents is the very same moment you need to start planning your exit strategy. You have to keep looking for opportunities elsewhere and keep applying for jobs every single day. Talk to friends and see if they know anyone looking for a roommate. Consider moving in with your significant other. No matter the case, you need to tell yourself that the move home is by no means permanent.

You're not the only one who was used to living alone

Chances are your parents were used to you living on your own, too. Contribute to the household, pitch in on bills and groceries, and cook for them as often as they do for you. But make saving a priority. It’s your ticket to freedom, after all.

Your parents can relate

There was a time when your parents were starting out, too. Becoming an adult means being able to appreciate what your parents have learned over the years. Discuss home economics with them and learn from their ways. It is also good to lay down some ground rules, since you are not a child anymore and should be treated as an equal in the household.

The death of private life?

After living on my own for many years, I now live with my aunt and uncle. The first thing I worried about after moving in with them was what I would do if I wanted to bring a girl home. Truth be told, it hasn’t been easy. Privacy is one of the major casualties of this situation. On the bright side, the more understanding your girlfriend is, the more she is worth your time. If she lives alone, then you're in luck; otherwise start looking for ways to take small weekend trips. Just remember: You are now an adult and should demand to be treated as one. Your parents will definitely understand and respect your privacy.